Preventing DNS Leaks with a VPN

How to Prevent DNS Leaks When Using a VPN

VPNs encrypt your connection and help you access content that may not be available in your country, but that doesn’t mean they’re foolproof. In fact, there are plenty of instances where people may think they’re browsing on an encrypted VPN network while their information is unknowingly being leaked. DNS, or domain name system, is the internet’s way of connecting one site to another; it’s how web servers translate domain names into unique numerical address.

Usually, your DNS is performed by your ISP (meaning your internet provider is able to see which sites you’re visiting and for how long), but when you use a VPN, you’re able to spoof your ISP by sending your web traffic through an encrypted tunnel.

At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.

Pulling the plug on random DNS leaks

Most VPNs offer their own form of DNS leak protection. By passing your network information through their own VPN tunnels, you’re able to browse the web without having to worry about people being able to see what you’re doing online. Unfortunately, leaks can sometimes occur. More often than not, DNS leaks occur in one of two ways:

Knowing when (and when not to) manually configure your VPN

On their own, VPNs are usually fairly easy to use—you simply open the app, connect to the server location of your choice, and browse anonymously. Unfortunately, one of the biggest causes of rogue DNS leaks happens when VPNs aren’t properly set up.

By customizing your VPN settings, you sometimes run the risk of bypassing your VPN’s own DNS settings for another system. While this type of DNS leak is rare, it’s more common on Windows machines, as newer Windows operating systems have built-in settings that often conflict with your VPN’s own privacy protocols.

Being extra secure on public wifi

While it’s true that a VPN helps secure non-secure networks, you still run the risk of exposure when browsing on public wifi. Open hotspots like those found at coffee shops and airports usually have little or no privacy settings, and in some cases hackers can actually spoof connected devices to send DNS traffic outside a user’s VPN network.

ExpressVPN, one of the leading VPN services, offers a great way to check if your DNS is leaking sensitive information. Simply connect to your VPN and open the page to see if your network is protected.

Checking your VPN every few days is a good rule of thumb, especially when you find yourself using public networks.

Keeping your information safe

While VPNs are a useful privacy tool, it’s important to not rely on them as the be-all-end-all when it comes to protecting your online data. Make sure to periodically check to see if your DNS information is leaking. If so, contact your VPN service immediately.